Frenchie Davis :: Fall In Love All Over Again

Fame is no elusive flower to powerhouse vocalist Frenchie Davis. This triple threat not only made waves on the reality competitive show circuit, but also made her mark on the stage with major roles in Broadway productions of "Rent" and "Ain't Misbehavin'." The self-styled R&B diva is back preparing for the launch of her "official" debut LP with a new single "Love's Got a Hold On Me" that is dance floor decadence.

"Finally...I feel ready," Davis says. "I was questioning whether I wanted to continue with my recording career." It was her friend singer/songwriter Janice Robinson (known for the hit dance track "Dreamer") who convinced Frenchie that the time was right. "She always said she was going to write a song that would be perfect."

When Davis was back in the New York, the two collaborated to record the track. The result "Love's Got a Hold On Me" is pure magic. The encouraging reception to the track was immediate, and Davis was eager to get the new song out to her fans. "I didn't even wait. I started my own label." Bryan Friedman, who has worked with Britney Spears for years was immediately enraptured by the infectious club single and choreographed the video. "Everything just came together."

No stranger to the dance music culture Frenchie Davis had a phenomenal hit "You Are" with masterful remix producer Tony Moran. "You Are" climbed to a respectable #5 position on the dance/club charts, but Davis wasn't immediately convinced that dance was the genre she should tackle. When she first appeared on the pop-culture conscious as a finalist on "American Idol" she favored and performed R&B standards and ballads to meet the commercial expectations of an artist of her background and training.

When Love Takes Over

Comparatively her experience on the competition singing show "The Voice" was drastically different. Paired with superstar pop princess-turned-TV-vocal-coach, Christina Aguilera, Davis made it to the top four before being sent home. But don’t cry for her. She credits Aguilera with helping her to look outside of the box. "It was Christina who suggested I try dance music all along," Davis reveals. "She opened up a whole other door of possibilities for me." Although Davis identified with the classic soulful divas like Aretha Franklin and Mariah Carey, she also related and connected to artists like Sylvester, Grace Jones and Tina Turner.

Christina inspired Frenchie to look outside the box. A recommendation that rocketed her to the top of iTunes downloads with her covers of Katy Perry’s "I Kissed a Girl," Madonna’s "Like a Prayer" and Kelly Rowland’s "When Love Takes Over." That success freed Davis from the fear and insecurity that had been preventing her from embracing her success and appeal. "I felt like Dorothy from the "Wizard of Oz" - I clicked my heels three times and found my way home. I’m not going to be afraid of life anymore. It’s OK to take chances."

And love has certainly gotten a hold of Davis, who has now happily found joy in her personal life and feels complete, ready to open herself to new and creative experiences - "I’d love to be on ’Smash’ or ’Glee’." - and excitedly prepares to release her new album "Just Frenchie". To sweeten the deal Davis will find herself competitively matched against her mentor Christina Aguilera who is releasing a new single and album as well.

But Frenchie is beyond the fear and scrutiny that has limited her in the past and is embracing her new life challenges. "I had to realize that you just have to do it." Davis knows she’s still got to do the work, but she’s committed. She’s not just Frenchie - she’s the one and only Frenchie Davis. Let her get a hold of you!

Frenchie Davis’ new single "Love’s Got a Hold On Me" is currently available for digital download on iTunes. Don’t miss her full-length interview on "Out Loud & Live! with JC Alvarez" this Friday @ 9pm EST on www.modernworldradio.com.

Native New Yorker JC Alvarez is a pop-culture enthusiast and the nightlife chronicler of the club scene and its celebrity denizens from coast-to-coast. He is the on-air host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Out Loud & Live!" and is also on the panel of the local-access talk show "Talking About".